Envisaged scanning systems that print our skincare on command, virtual dermatologists that could accurately grade our skin at the click of a button, a smart technology hairbrush to measure frizziness, dryness, split ends, breakage and so much more, these technologies are no more required to be visualized mentally since this-and more-now exists in real life. Hence, it is rightly said that future-gazing is less about imagining the impossible. It is about correctly predicting solutions that will make our lives easier and then making them a reality. Adopting skin technology has not been an easy task. However, some organizations and enterprises are working hard to push the boundaries of skin health. As a result, in this article, we will learn about how technology and science intersect with skincare and the beauty industry.
L’ORÉAL AND VERILY: THE UNPRECEDENTED PARTNERSHIP
L’Oréal is constantly reinventing the beauty experience through its digital platform by enhancing beauty and skincare. It is constantly experimenting with ways to make skincare and beauty a more tech-savvy industry, such as online consultations, personalised make-up dispensers, wearable UV sensors, and other innovations.
This global leader in beauty and skincare has announced a first-of-its-kind deliberated partnership with Verily, Google parent Alphabet’s biotech subsidiary that is at the intersection of healthcare, data science, and technology—building integrated solutions to improve human health. This venture will transform the face of skincare by advancing it with cutting-edge technology and strategy.
Skin problems and skin health are issues that no one takes lightly and will go to any length to resolve. Skin problems affect an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide today. Many people do not have easy access to dermatologists. The skin, as the largest organ, necessitates frequent examination, which can lead to the discovery of information about one’s health and the diagnosis of conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as providing insights into the aging process. Figuring out how to treat those issues is a highly personal struggle—the formulations of various recommended products may work for some, but not all.
All of this makes people care more about their skin, which is why skincare—the serums, cleansers, and moisturizers that most of us slather on our bodies—is a $100 billion industry that is expected to grow to $145 billion by 2028.
The new partnership between L’Oréal and Verily aims to break down barriers to dermatology care and provide dermatologists with new insights that can help improve skin health results.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Verily, a global leader in precision health technology.” “Our strong belief in the intersection of science, formulations, and our unique Advanced Research capabilities to decode revolutionary scientific discoveries that will create the future of beauty has driven L’Oréal’s century-long commitment to pioneering innovation,” says Nicolas Hieronimus, Chief Executive Officer, L’Oréal Group.
This project is being carried out through two complementary programmes:
The first step is to form a strategic research collaboration to develop a longitudinal biological, clinical, and environmental perspective on skin health. To decode and discover the links between expo-some, skin ageing, and the deep biology of the skin, L’Oréal’s deep scientific knowledge of skin will be combined with Verily’s comprehensive clinical science capabilities.
Second, there will be a collaboration between Verily’s R&D team and L’Oréal’s R&I and Active Cosmetics Division to explore the development of new technologies and telediagnosis solutions such as AI algorithms and sensors for skincare, which will serve as the foundation for new services.
“Verily and L’Oréal believe in the transformative power of technology to enable precision beauty and health,” Verily President and COO Stephen Gillett says. “We are excited to collaborate with a global leader in cosmetic science to better understand and promote skin health.”
As a result, with the help of skin specialists, these two companies will collaborate to launch a platform for skin biology research. The platform consists of physical components—spectral devices, optical sensors, and measurement tools that dermatologists can use on patients to collect more data about the skin—as well as a digital component, which includes new algorithms designed to better understand skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Dermatologists, presumably, will be able to prescribe treatments for skin conditions and then feed the results of those treatments into L’Oréal and Verily’s platform, thereby improving the algorithm.
Hence, this research could lead to the development of skincare products and the accurate diagnosis of various skin problems, ultimately assisting people in dealing with them effectively or, if possible, preventing or curing them entirely. Dr Amanda Oakley, President of the International Society of Teledermatology, believes the same, and she is looking forward to learning more about the skin as a result of this strategic collaboration between L’Oréal and Verily, which she hopes will lead to innovation for dermatologists and consumers alike.
So, initiatives like this give us hope that one day we will have a platform that will make skincare simple and effective for us. It will assist us in developing a personal skincare plan, and we will understand what is best for our skin and what is not. The specialists will assist us in quickly diagnosing any ski problems or issues and, as a result, provide us with an effective treatment to prevent or cure them.
Of course, there are some concerns about the types of products or services that L’Oréal might develop based on the information gleaned from this collaboration. Personalized skincare startups are a dime a dozen these days, but by partnering with Verily, L’Oréal may be able to back up whatever serums it eventually develops with science. Products that treat medical conditions must be FDA-approved and undergo clinical trials to ensure they’re safe and effective, and it’s unclear whether L’Oréal will go that route, or if the personalized skincare products will be more cosmetic. The first step is to collect data, and as someone who is fascinated by both beauty products and health research, I’m excited to see how L’Oréal’s more scientific approach to skincare pans out.
Role of AI, AR & 3D PRINTING:
Several game-changing technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality, have emerged in recent years (AR).
Our lives are becoming increasingly dependent on technology, and one of our routines that have been significantly impacted by digitisation is skincare. AI has been the driving force here, with several apps and devices now capable of assessing an individual’s skin, providing customized beauty treatments, and recommending products. AI that can be useful in not only creating these hyper-personal experiences but also contributing to the gradual and organic improvement of skin health, which will eventually lead brands and consumers to unravel and demystify the secret to age-proof skin.
AR is another way that technology enables brands to connect with customers. It allows customers to virtually try on a variety of cosmetics, improving their shopping experience and making purchasing decisions easier.
A facial-recognition algorithm is used in 3D printing to detect the color and pigmentation of a user’s skin and identify blemishes before precisely applying tiny jets of the exact right shade of make-up to those blemishes. It is constantly evolving, and businesses are utilizing it in novel ways to provide customers with truly innovative products and a personalized experience.
The skincare and beauty industries are constantly turning to technology to provide a more personalized experience for consumers. Brands such as L’Oréal, Proven, SkinKraft, Clinique, and Bare Anatomy have already delved into product personalisation using AI and ML to provide their customers with smart skincare experiences.
Conclusion:
While the future of beauty technology is difficult to predict, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift in digital beauty behaviors. Furthermore, with significant increases in collaboration between beauty brands and technology companies, the growing use of AI, AR, and 3D printing data will continue to transform the consumer experience, creating new opportunities for greater personalisation and tailor-made formulations.
Technology is assisting the cosmetics industry in reaching its full potential. Presumably, we are on our way to a world where technology and beauty are increasingly intertwined.
Reference links:
- https://verily.com/blog/verily-and-loreal-launch-partnership-to-advance-precision-skin-care/?linkId=8025336
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/loreal-and-verily-announce-first-of-its-kind-strategic-partnership-to-advance-precision-skin-health-301465106.html
- https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/beauty-features/loreal-partners-verily-precision-skin-health-project-1235042927/
- https://yourstory.com/weekender/tech-and-beauty-ai-disrupting-skincare-industry/amp
- https://www.prescouter.com/2018/01/technologies-redefining-beauty-cosmetics-industry/
- https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/skin-technology-innovations
- https://connect.in-cosmetics.com/trends-en/technology/beauty-tech-ready-for-the-future-of-cosmetics/
- https://practicaldermatology.com/articles/2019-jan/the-future-is-now-technology-for-skincare
- https://www.loreal.com/en/beauty-science-and-technology/beauty-tech/reinventing-the-beauty/
- https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-skincare-tech-devices.html
- https://fortune.com/2021/01/11/ai-artificial-intelligence-personalized-beauty-cosmetics-brainstorm-reinvent/
- https://gizmodo-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/gizmodo.com/l-oreal-and-alphabets-verily-are-working-on-extremely-p-1848392392/amp
Thank you for this informative article!
Very informative article. Thanks!
It is so intriguing